Traffic signal



S. FUJI] ET AL Oct. 21, 1930.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 14, 1950 YINVENTORJS: YSHIGEO FUJII,

HIKOHACHI YAMAKI, W Ruooum RAMOs. BYA-tty:

S. FUJH ET L Oct. 21, 1930.-

TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed May 14, 1950 4 Sheets-3heet 2 INVENTORIS:

.Smszo F'uuu,

HIKOHACHI YAMAKI,

RUDOLPH RAMos. BYATTY:

- Oct. 21, 1930, |=,u m ET AL 1,778,853.

TRAFFIC SIGNAL Filed May 14, 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVfiNTORS: SHIGEO Fuuu; J'DKOHACHI YAMAKI,

RUDOLPH Rmos.

. .BYATTY:

Oct. 21, 1930. 4 5 FUJII ET AL 1,778,853

TRAFFIC SIGNAL Fi led May 14. 1930 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Iuvsu'rcRs:

Smszo Fuau, HmoHAcru YAMA| Ruoawn Rmvms.

Patented Oct. 21, 1930 i "re s,

SHIGEO FUJII, HIKOI-IACVHI YAMAK 'AND RUDOLPH CALIFORNIA arms, OFV'VLOS Meme,

TRAFFIC sienna Applieatidn'fil ed May 4, 1930. Serial No 452,295.

"Other objects are to provide mechanism of the character hereinafterset forth, embracin the desired features, of simplicity,-ef,

ficiency and durability.

The invention is directed particularly'to an improvement in'the' operating mechanism for a traflic signal described andclaimed'in our Patent pp filed by us on DeG -Q ber 17, 1929, Ser. N0.414,771.

The invention further relates to improvementsin actuating mechanism whereby 6 signal is automatically actuatedfto-stop' 1nd1 V cating position, on actuation of the vehicle brake, pedal, and may be manually a' 'ctuated I to other indicating positions. H i i It is to be understood that the structural embodiment of the invention "as awhole and g its various features as shown ismerely illustrative and not restrictive, and that-many of the details of construction canjbe widely varied without departing from the spirit of the invention, and we therefore do not wish to be limited in these particulars or any others except as set forth in the appended claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a sectional elevation ofasign'al semaphore and housing, the operative parts being shown in their normalinoperative position. Fig. '2 is a sectional elevation of the signal and housing showing the semaphore arm in one of itsdis-' play positions. Fig.1 3' is a side elevation of the signal and housing. Fig. 4 isa fragmen the signalhousing and a partof the operative mechanism thereon, Fig; dis a fragmentary five-mechanism. 6 is a detailand. plan tary view of an automobile frame showing ofthe mechanismfiliown in. Fig. 5; i in is a front elevation of'the Contfolbox showing the'lever for manualactuation of the' sign al. Fig. 8 is a frontfelevationof the controlboX with cover removed. Fig. 9 is a sectional ele vation of the control box. Fig.- l0 is adetail v p View of the actuating cam. Fig. 11 isa side elevation of the actuating cam 3 Fig. 12 is a front elevation of the lever which is actu ated by the brake pedal. Fig. 18 is a side view of the lever which, is actuated by the brake pedal. Fig. 14 is a front ele'vation of a modi i fied form of control box. -Fig.'-15 is a front elevation of the modified form of controlbox W withgcoverremoved Fig. 16 is a sectional v elevation of the m'odifiedfor'm. Fig. 17 is a detail view of the actuating lever. Fig.. :18 is a frontfland detail view. of the actuating "lever. "Fig. 19 is a front view ofthe modified l actuating cam. .Fig; 20 is a detailview-of the signal 1 actuating shaft, j Fig.21 is a detail plan view ofthe'actuatingspring. I

Referringin detail tothe drawings, our improved .signal apparatus" consists of .a' housing 22, having an opening 23,;ajndia hinged COVQI 2Q, .at .the top normally ret ainedlin closed position by spring25. The housing is supported by'bracliet 26, mounted on 'auto'mobile frame member '27: and-ad jacent to, windshield 28. Control box 29 is adapted to be'secured to frame member 27 and a metal conduit "30 1 extends from control box 29 to housingf22. Control box 29.has a cover 31 bearing signal'characters S, L, and FR. MeI'nber 29' has in- LJ tegral stop pins 32 and 33, af pivotshaft Set, and lug 35. a Cover 31 is secured to box 29 by screws 36. "Shaft 37"is journalled in housing 29, and has fixed thereto afle xa Q ible shaft 38 extending-through conduit 30 FVJ Q the ,semaphoreinay'be] actuated tofany 2;; signal position as determined by the "chars acters S, L, and .BF', and hasan actuating cam 43 thereon, and .ip rovided jwith a lug A'pawl 45 isoperatively mounts. ed on pivot shaft 3%, and actuated we. 1;;

LIL].

display position for right turn signal.

. gage with cam 43, by spring 46, interposed between the cam and lug 35. Pawl 45 engages with relatively broad notches 47,whic h determines neutral and non-display position; 48, which determines display position for left turn signal; and 49 which determines For :the stop signal position, pawl 45 will engage J V a V V Signal shaft 37:1nay be manually actuated "by handle '4l jito any signal position T0 with cam section '50; the pawl being spring actuatedpwill, when "released, automatically actuate the camto neutral position;

51, independently operable on shaftiS'Z, engages with 44 to actuate cam 43 and shaft 37, andis limited in movement by stop p ns 32 and33.

actuate shaft 37: on movement of pedal 52,

we provide operating inechanismfconsisting of; I-ink53 operativelv connected tolever 51. andlo arm 54 of rock'shaiit yourn-alledin bracket 56 secured to steering colhas collar 58 lam ed'thereon by screw 59, and spring 60 disposed on the rock-shaft and connected to bracket .56 and screw 59. and serving to actuate l'ever51 to neutral position. Rock-shaft 55 has arm 61 in which is journalled a rotatable stud 62. Link meme ber 631's fixed to stud 62, and terminates in angular stop member 64,.adapted to engage with automobileflooring 65,Vthereby limiting turning movement of rock shaft 55.

Link member 63, has a collar 66 fixed thereto;

by screw- 67, and has a" slidable sleeve 68 mounted thereon, .and provided with hook 69.; Spring 70 is connected to. hook 69 and screw"67.., Lever 71 is pivotaly connected tion.

' I In the modified form control box mechdanisn'a shown in Figs. 14, 15, 16, l9sands2l,

i we prov'ide housing. 73,:having journalled j thereinthe signal shaft 37, on which is mounted cam 74, adapted to engage with spring 75',. which has one end 76 fixed to 2 1.butnuent 77,:and the opposite: end 78- pierced "-for, guidefpin '7 91,. and slidable on abutl i'ent 77 "Leaf spring 7 5 engages with cam section 80 for/stop signal-: position,

turn signaljposition,

with camsection 81 forleft turn signal p.0-

Lever:

. ing e feature j 1s; set

sition, ande with hcam sectionl f82, for right From the'foregoing descriptionand drawsemaphore signal apparatus, including a signal arm, mechanism whereby the arm may.

be manually actuated to a plurality of display positions, and mechanism whereby the arm majybe automatically actuated to initial display position upon application ofan auto- 7 mobilebrake pedal to indicate a stop or slow signal the v manually actuated mecha- ;nism being operable independently relative to the automatic mechanism, and'bothmechanismshaving actuating springs and suitable cams whereby the signal; arm is returned,'when released, to normal non-dis play positionrwithin its protective housing.

7 It is our intention to provide signal apparatus, that is adaptable [for application tomany. automobiles, and to provide positive andfeflicient mechanismfthereinp and ings, it may be seen that we have provided we have therefore provided a plurality of actuatingfsprings, levers, and links in cooperative wconnection with" one another,

whereby, the device. may be installedon the several automobiles, without alteration or modification of the many mechanical parts.

In use, the operator will actuate handle 41, through an arc-of forty-five degrees to place the semaphore arm in its initial. dis

play position for a, stop orpslow signal; through an arc of 'ninety degrees to place the semaphore in display positionior left turnfsignal, and through an arc of one hundred and thirty-five degrees for a. right turn signal; On actuatingthebrake pedal the" semaphore arm. will be actuated toits initial display position, and. will return to non-display position,-on release of the pedal; b'eing 'actuated by 'the cooperative springs to initial nonedisplay position,

forth, in anotherpatent application. Y .2 H {We claimzfl I a v 1. In signal apparatus, a signal housing,a semaphore arm normally within the housing in non-display position, and adapted to swing outwardlyto visual display positions; a shaft for actuating the semaphorearm including a square section, an; actuating section, and a flemble-sectlon between; the square' sectlon The illuminat and actuating section,a cam mounted on the actuatlng section, a, control box enclosing the actuating "shaft sectiongand cam thereon, a pawl withln the control box and n engagement witlrthejcam, a spring serving to maintaln the pawlin operative engagement, and

a'handle for actuating said actuating shaft. 1 .2. In s gnal apparatus, a jsignal'housin'g, a

semaphore arm normallyswithin, the housing and adapted to swing-"outwardly "to: display 4 L positions, a sh'aftfoi actiiating ithe semaphorearm, including Va square section .on

which the arm is mountecha flexible section,

V and an actuating; section, a cam; mountedon the-.actuatmg section, a {control boxwapart from the signal'housing and enclosing the actuating section with the cam mounted independently rotatable thereon, a lugon the cam whereby' the cam is actuated on initial movement of said lever,-'a handle for manually actuating the actuating shaft, and

mechanism whereby the. said lever may be,

actuated by movement of a brake pedal.

3. In signal apparatus,a housing, a semaphore arm disposed within the housing and adapted to swing outwardly therefrom to its display positions, a shaft for actuating the arm, means within the semaphore arm for illuminating the same, a control box adjacent to the signal housing, means within the con-.

trol box for determining the display positions and limiting the movement of the semaphore arm, including a lever independently rotatable on the actuating shaft, an actuating I cam on the shaft, a lug on the cam in engagement with sa d lever, and mechanlsm arranged whereby the actuating shaft may be actuated by movement of a brake pedal.

4. In signal apparatus, the combination with a housing,a semaphore arm disposed therein and operable to visual display positions, and an actuating shaft for the semae phore arm, of a cam on the actuating'shaft, a lever independently rotatable on the actuating shaft and in engagement with the cam thereon, a wire link member having pivotal connection with the rotatable lever, a bracket adapted to be mounted on a steering wheel column, a rock shaft j ournalled in the bracket, the wire link member being operatively connected to one end of the rock lever, a rotatable stud journalled in the opposite end of the rock lever, a reciprocatinglink having one end fixed to the rotatable stud, a collar fixed thereto, a sleeve slidable thereon, an oscillatable lever having a pivotal connection with the slidable sleeve and disposed in the path of a foot pedal, and a bearing member to which the oscillatable lever is operatively secured.

5. In signal apparatus, the combination with a housing, a semaphore disposed therein and operable to visual display positions, an actuating shaft for the semaphore arm, and an independently rotatable lever mounted on the actuating shaft, and operative when moved in one direction to actuate the actuating shaft, of a wire link member having pivmember being operatively connected to one I arm, a rotatable stud journalled in the opposite arm, a bearing member secured to a fixed pedal.

support, an oscillatable lever having pivotal connectionwith thebearing member} a reciprocating link having one end fixed to the rotatable stud and its opposite end terminating in a stop member, a sleeve slidable on the reciprocating link and having pivotal connection with the oscillatablelever,-a collar secured to thereciprocating link, a spring connected to the collar and-"to the slidable sleeve, and means for limiting the movement I- of theindependently rotatable lever on'the actuating shaft wherebyYmovement of the rocklever and links c'onnected'thereto are correspondingly limited; the oscillatable lever being disposed in the ofa vehicle foot 6. lnsignal apparatus, the combination with a shaft arranged for actuating a signal arm, acontrol-box' in which the actuating V shaft is journalled, and'a handle for manually actuating the said shaft, ofa cam fixed to the actuating shaft, a lug integral with and projecting from the cam, a rotatable lever operatively mounted on the" actuating" shaft and normally in engagement with the projecting lug, a detent pawl in engagement with the cam, a spring serving to actuate the,

detent pawl, stop pins arranged to limit the movement of the rotatable lever, a -bracket adapted to be mounted on a steering wheel column, a rock shaft'journalled in the bracket and having integral and angularly extending arms, a wire link member operativelyconnected to the independently rotatable lever within the controlbox and to one arm of the rock lever, a collar mounted on the rock lever, a springconnected to the collar on the rock;

lever and to the supporting bracket whereby to actuate the rotatable lever within the Com I trol box to neutral position, a rotatable stud mounted in the opposite arm of the rock le-; ver, a. reciprocating link fixed to the rotatable stud, a bearing member adapted to be mounted on the automobile'fiooring, an oscillatable lever operatively connected'to the saidbearing member, and disposed in the path-of the automobile brake pedal, a sleeve slidable on the reciprocating'link, and having pivotal connection with the oscillatable' lever,a collar fixed tothe reciprocating link, and a spring mounted on the reciprocable link and connected to the fixed collar thereon 7. In signal apparatus, the combination with a shaft for actuating a signal 'arm,-a.can1

on the shaft, a lug on the cam, a rotatable lever operatively mounted on the shaft and engaging with the lug to actuate the signal I actuating shaft, and means, for limiting the movement of the independently rotatablevlever, of a supporting bracket apart from the if T 1 actuating shaft and lever thereon, a rock shaft; journalled in the supporting bracket and having opposed lever arms extending angularly from the rock shaft, a wire link member operatively connected to theindependently rotatable leveron the signal actuating shaft and operatively connected to an arm of the rock lever, a collar on, the rock lever, aspring connected to the collar and to the 1 supporting bracket and tending to urge the lndependently rotatable lever in one direction 1 of movement, a rotatable stud 'journalled in the opposite arm of the, rock lever, a reciproeating link memberfixed to the rotatable stud, a supporting member "adapted to be fiXe'dto an automobile flooring adjacent to the brakepedal thereof, an oscillatable lever operatively connected to said supporting member, and disposed in the path of the brake pedal, a sleeve slidable' on the reciprocatinglink member, a collar fixed to the reciprocating'link member, 'a spring connected to the collar and sliding sleeve on the reciprocating .link member, whereby the mechanism is actuated to actuate the; signal arm shaft on initial movement of the brake pedal, and a stop forming the end of the reciprocating link member and engaging with e the automobile flooring to limit the move-- ment of said link member, the spring thereon: being tensed as the reciprocating link approaches the limit of its movement. j 1

In testimony whereof, we hereunto afixour signature i I I YAMAKI.

. SHIGEO FUJIL RUDOLPH; RAMOS. 

